Australia's most recent Victoria Cross recipient has had a private meeting with Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace.

Corporal Daniel Keighran was last year recognised for his extreme bravery in exposing himself to enemy fire to save his comrades during a deadly ambush in Afghanistan in 2010.

The three-and-a-half hour Battle of Derapet claimed the life of his mate, Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney.

Corporal Keighran became the third recipient of the Victoria Cross for Australia when Governor-General Quentin Bryce presented him with the medal last November.

The 30-year-old met the Queen in London overnight.

He admitted it was a little nerve-wracking, but said she put him and his wife Kathryn at ease.

"It was a great honour to meet Her Majesty and to represent the Australian Army and the boys from 6RAR [6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment] also present at Derapet," Corporal Keighran said in a statement.

"Meeting The Queen was not something I ever dreamed I would do.

"Her Majesty was very knowledgeable about Australia and the work we have undertaken in Afghanistan, and it was a real privilege to have had this opportunity to meet her."

Corporal Keighran would not reveal what was discussed once the cameras were ushered out of the room, but did reveal that he gave Her Majesty a book of photographs of Kalgoorlie.